Pubdate: Thu, 16 Jun 2016 Source: Herald-Independent, The (Monona/Cottage Grove, WI) Copyright: 2016 Hometown News LLC Contact: http://www.hngnews.com/monona_cottage_grove/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5545 Author: Kevin Passon MARIJUANA SUPPORTERS PUSHING FOR BINDING REFERENDUM Surprise and disappointment have turned to a unique history-making opportunity for a group of people wanting a $1 fine for possession of marijuana in Monona. Members of Madison NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), led by President Nate Petreman of Monona, are collecting signatures to force the issue to a binding direct legislation referendum on the November ballot. In addition to the $1 fine, the legislation would make possession of marijuana the lowest priority for Monona police. aOur goal is to collect 1,200 signatures, and we have until July 13 to do,a Petreman said. aWeave been set up at a few places in the city, and weave been going door to door as well. Weare doing very well right now.a State law requires that for a direct legislation referendum to occur, supporters must collect signatures equal to 15 percent of the number of those voting in the last gubernatorial election. For this effort, that magic number is 719, but Petreman said he doesnat want to leave any room for doubt when the signatures get turned in to the city clerk and are verified. After more than six months of discussion with local law enforcement, the issue of lowering the current fine from $313 (including court costs) to $1 (excluding court costs, making the total fine about $60), the matter was brought before the city Public Safety Commission in January. That meeting appeared positive for Petreman and other supporters; however, when the commission met again a month later to finalize action, members voted to leave the current ordinance as is. aIt was kind of like a broadside to us,a Petreman said. aThey had seemed pretty positive Jan. 24.a At that time a" and yet today a" Petreman and others point to a 2010 advisory referendum to OK the use of medical marijuana that passed with 75 percent of the vote in Dane County and 78 percent in Monona. A 2014 advisory referendum to legalize marijuana in Wisconsin was approved by 65 percent of Dane County voters and 67 percent in Monona. aIf the campaign is successful, it would make Wisconsin history as just the second cannabis law reform binding referendum that has made it to a city ballot,a said Danny Conners, a member of NORML. The first instance of direct legislation used to pass a cannabis law reform proposal was in 1977 in Madison. aToday, Madison General Ordinance 23.20 remains the second oldest decriminalization ordinance in the U.S. still on the books,a Conners said. For more information, visit www.madisonnorml.org/ or search for the Monona Direct Legislation page on Facebook. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt